touch point podcast

Health systems are increasingly asked to make decisions based on data, but not all research is created equal. In this encore episode, hosts Reed Smith and Chris Boyer revisit the essential differences between market research and marketing research—clarifying how each plays a distinct role in informing healthcare strategies. They’re joined by Steve Koch of Cast and Hue, who offers a deeper dive int...

In this episode, hosts Chris Boyer and Reed Smith explore how adopting a product thinking mindset—one rooted in user-centered design, continuous iteration, and outcome-driven strategies—can help healthcare marketers close usability gaps, collaborate cross-functionally, and build digital experiences that evolve with patients’ needs. With nearly half of users reporting frustration with digital healt...

From clinical burnout to back-office understaffing, health systems are navigating a complex workforce reckoning. In this episode, hosts Chris Boyer and Reed Smith explore how digital technology is being positioned as a lifeline—but question whether we're applying it in the right ways. Rather than viewing automation and AI as quick fixes to fill vacancies, they challenge the industry to consider ho...

With all of the emphasis lately on developing digital experiences, it’s often overlooked that the customer experience transcends online and offline touchpoints. In this episode, hosts Chris Boyer and Reed Smith discuss the concept of a hybrid CX approach, integrating offline and online experiences, and the role AI has in supporting the new customer journey. Ian Lindsey from Cerecore joins to discu...

Chris Boyer and Reed Smith explore how AI is transforming the digital discovery journey — and why traditional SEO tactics may no longer cut it. They discuss:  The Collapse of the Keyword Empire - as AI-generated results increasingly dominate SERPs, healthcare brands must rethink how they show up in search. Intent, Not Indexing -  AI search surfaces content differently, prioritizing context over ke...

Chris Boyer and Reed Smith challenge a growing assumption in healthcare: that technology is the strategy. While health systems face urgent pressures—from constrained budgets to rising demand—they’re investing heavily in digital solutions. But are they using technology to truly enable transformation, or simply chasing shiny objects? In this episode, they explore: Why digital transformation is often...

Chris Boyer and Reed Smith break down one of the industry’s most misunderstood trends, separating the headline-worthy buzz from the meaningful, strategic work that marketing teams should actually be focused on. The cover:  AI-Experience Design - defining what it is and why other industries are framing it differently than healthcare. The Urgency Gap – Most healthcare marketing teams haven’t laid th...

In this encore episode, hosts Chris Boyer and Reed Smith explore how evolving financial pressures and care delivery shifts are forcing health systems to rethink their business models. From the rise of value-based care to growing partnerships with retail and digital-first players, this conversation breaks down the key factors shaping the industry’s strategic realignment. Topics include: The growing...

Chris Boyer and Reed Smith explore how traditional performance marketing tactics have unraveled — and what must replace them. From cookie deprecation to HIPAA compliance and signal loss across Meta and Google, the rules have changed. But the need for results hasn’t. They discuss: Why platform-optimized media is no longer reliable How privacy and regulatory shifts are redefining performance marketi...

In this episode, hosts Chris Boyer and Reed Smith examine why the classic funnel framework may not reflect the complex, emotional, and often anonymous nature of how people engage with care decisions today. Rethinking intent and awareness in healthcare journeys Why decision-making is fragmented and reactive How privacy regulations are eliminating visibility across the funnel Why traditional convers...

In this episode, hosts Chris Boyer and Reed Smith challenge the outdated mindset of the hospital website and explore how health systems can architect unified platforms that drive growth, deliver care, and personalize experiences.  The platform shift – Drawing from other industries, we explore how websites are becoming engines for acquisition, service delivery, and retention. From brochure to busin...

In this episode, hosts Chris Boyer and Reed Smith unpack how the role of the Chief Marketing Officer has evolved—both across industries and within health systems. The expanding CMO playbook – CMOs are now expected to drive growth, lead digital transformation, and influence business-wide decision-making. The impact of AI and analytics – Today’s marketing leaders must be data-fluent and tech-savvy t...

Our digital world is ruled by AI algorithms who are now able to summarize your brand and influence search results. Chris Boyer and Reed Smith explore how these digital forces are reshaping public perception of healthcare organizations—and what can be done to defend and strengthen online reputation before it drifts away into the ocean of algorithms. They discuss How third-party platforms like Googl...

Today’s healthcare consumer is more empowered, more digital-savvy, and more skeptical than ever. Yet many health systems still engage them with outdated approaches and institutional thinking. In this episode, Chris Boyer and Reed Smith explore the growing disconnect between what consumers expect and what health systems deliver—and what it will take to close that gap. They explore: The rise of the...

Forget product pitches and click-through rates - today’s best marketing doesn’t just inform, it evokes. In this episode, Chris Boyer and Reed Smith explore the rising influence of vibe marketing in healthcare and how AI is both accelerating and reshaping this emotionally-driven strategy. They dive into: What Is Vibe Marketing: How brands are shifting from storytelling to emotion-driven engagement,...

Long before hashtags and apps, patient mentoring thrived quietly in community rooms and support circles—offering emotional validation and practical guidance where clinical care left off. In this episode, Chris Boyer and Reed Smith trace the evolution of peer-to-peer support in healthcare, and how digital platforms have transformed it from local to limitless. They dive into: The History of Peer Men...

In 2024, U.S. healthcare and pharma ad spending will top $30 billion—but how much of it actually drives results? In this episode, Chris Boyer and Reed Smith dig into the hidden inefficiencies in health system media budgets and ask a bold question: Are we investing strategically, or just fueling the machine? They dive into: Why Media Waste Persists – From inherited budget models to disconnected tea...

Is AI-generated content in healthcare reckless—or revolutionary? In this episode, hosts Chris Boyer and Reed Smith challenge the fear around using AI in a regulated industry and explore how health systems can use generative AI safely, effectively, and strategically to create better content, faster. They dive into: AI + Content in a Regulated World – Why risk-averse culture and compliance concerns...

Healthcare operates under the mindset that failure is not an option—but what if that’s actually slowing down innovation? While tech companies embrace rapid iteration, health systems often get stuck in pilot purgatory, unable to scale promising initiatives. In this episode, Chris Boyer and Reed Smith explore why failing faster—when done smartly—is key to keeping pace with disruption. They dive into...

Consumers expect personalized experiences in nearly every aspect of their lives—but in healthcare, is personalization truly delivering value, or is it just another marketing buzzword? Chris Boyer and Reed Smith break down the balance between helpful personalization and overreach, exploring how health systems can use data-driven insights to enhance patient engagement without crossing privacy lines....

Hospitals and health systems are facing yet another wave of uncertainty and disruption—financial constraints, shifting regulations, and changing patient expectations are putting immense pressure on leadership. The fact is, traditional leadership models don’t work in this new environment—adaptive change is now a critical skill. In this episode, hosts Chris Boyer and Reed Smith explore how marketing...

When we think about reputation management, our minds often jump to Google reviews and star ratings—but what if we’re thinking too small? In this episode, Chris Boyer and Reed Smith challenge the traditional approach to ORM and explore how health systems can leverage reputation as a strategic asset beyond the review section. They dive into: Reputation as a Business Asset – Why ORM isn’t just a mark...

In this episode, hosts Reed Smith and Chris Boyer explore the evolving role of content in healthcare marketing, diving into content composability, AI’s impact on content creation, and how health systems can maximize their content strategies. They break down how healthcare organizations can move beyond simple content production to a structured, data-driven approach that enhances patient engagement....

In this episode of Touch Point, hosts Chris Boyer and Reed Smith explore how retail healthcare’s retreat, increasing regulations, cybersecurity risks, and private equity consolidation are reshaping industry competition. With Walmart and Walgreens pulling back from healthcare, new state-level regulations tightening mergers, and cybersecurity emerging as a financial risk, traditional health systems...

In this episode, hosts Chris Boyer and Reed Smith explore the evolution of patient experience, from its holistic roots to today’s data-driven strategies. They discuss how healthcare’s focus on patient satisfaction metrics, Chief Experience Officers, and financial incentives has reshaped care—raising the question: are we truly improving experiences or just measuring them better? They also examine h...